X3TC Walkthrough Video Tutorial Series

SaucyTumorJuice · Post by **SaucyTumorJuice** » Fri, 25. Mar 11, 23:22

seconded.....

I would like to see a Let's Play, or something like it. There isn't many X3 videos of gameplay with commentary. I enjoy watching others play various games, it shows me how others approach the game.

ThailandExpress · Post by **ThailandExpress** » Sat, 26. Mar 11, 00:38

I thought about making a vid of a typical gaming session of mine while just talking through my thought process (Trade management, factory upkeep, patrols, building/equipping ships) etc

I would be intrested hearing your thought process. Especially on why and what kind of factories you build early/mid game. Also building/equipping ships too. Really everything Dave , when your done you should feel like a wrung out dish towel

Snafu_X3 · Post by **Snafu_X3** » Sat, 26. Mar 11, 03:05

dryfus3368 wrote:I'd like to see something on CAG/CLS and how to use them.

Good idea, but make it in 2 parts for each: basic useage & setup, & advanced useage & setup

I'm thinking of the difference between getting a new CAG pilot to run a single factory, & fine-tuning a single advanced CLS2 to plod around his route, moving all sorts of wares, or resupplying ships with ammo/ecells - it isn't as easy as it looks on first sight!

BigBANGtheory · Post by **BigBANGtheory** » Sat, 26. Mar 11, 16:37

This is good work, very good indeed.

I would personally be interested in the following topics if the fancy grabs you:

1) Closed complex loops
2) Using a carrier with large numbers of fighters effectively
3) Missile frigates
4) Managing multiple capital ships in the same sector engaged in combat.

jasonbarron · Post by **jasonbarron** » Sun, 27. Mar 11, 16:31

I just want to say to daviddowner--THANK YOU!!!!!!! I stumbled across X3TC in an old box of my brother's games--I had never played it before--booted it up and instantly became obsessed with it. The only problem was, I hadn't the vaguest idea of what to do, or how to control the game, or even what my priorities should be...your video tutorials are a HUGE help for green players. Thanks again!

daviddowner · Post by **daviddowner** » Sun, 27. Mar 11, 18:43

Updated: Part 14 (My savegame overview/commentary part 1)

ThailandExpress · Post by **ThailandExpress** » Sun, 27. Mar 11, 20:37

Hi Dave, forgive the ramble. Hope you not a English teacher cause I suck at writing. I just hope it helps you in any way.
Salute!

Just watched your vid. Using a jumpdrive hauler, as you called it, is a great idea! I had been wondering how to accomplish that with less heartache than I am currently doing it. I have yet to build lots of ships other than Mistal freighters in Legends home, where you can buy jumpdrives easily.

CAG/CLS is part of the bonus pack. http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=276039
It does not give you a **modified** tag, so should be safe for steam. I am still working on learning it, but it does take away quite a bit of micromanagement as far as I can tell. Like you having freighters stationed at PPC forges/Miltary Outposts, CLS2s can be programed to fly around to these places and buy for you. If thier level is high enough they will use jump drive, and fighter drones. If you install Fight software I & II they jump away from trouble as well and use misquito missle defense that is in the bonus pack too. That is worth it all by itself.

The CLS1 software can move products from you factories to your factories, i.e. ore mine to 1MJ shied complex.

CAG will buy and sell for you factories and is much. much better than the sell/buy by best price commands.

One easy video you could produce, also will help you understand how CLS2 works can be found by reading the thread below. I didnt understand the first time I read it was you pilots dont have to buy anything just keep flying in circle suggested, to rise up in ranks. I bought the suggested 10 Discoverers and have 10 top level pilots just waiting for me to use. One thing it does not suggust I found helpful is to use the automatic naming, 1st varient so it will put there training level in their name so you know when they top out easily.

CAG/CLS trainer
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=277232

I use a mod that will make your game modified by the same person who made the CAG/CLS that is in the bonus pack. It is called Economy and Supply Trader by lucike ( a better UT ), that uses the same pilots as CAG/CLS. The reason I am telling ya this is because using the technic above, early in the game ( cause discovers are cheap, dont even need guns ), I had fully trained pilots for my EST's when I could afford to start buying freighters for E&ST. As well as CAGs for my couple ore mines and wheat farms I bought, and I have a pool of fully trained pilots for when I start to use the CLS2 technic below.

CLS refuelling/rearming read this thread
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php? ... sc&start=0

Hopefully some more experenced folks will drop by to give better advice on this, because I really dont know anything! I gotten to where I can start to build a small fleet of fighters with a few M6s thrown in several times and the just kills me micromangement kills me. Then I quit. Then I cant stay away, and read read the foruims and try again. I am hoping the CLS2 will help with that when I get enough money this time around to start buying ships and armaments.

Thai

daviddowner · Post by **daviddowner** » Mon, 28. Mar 11, 14:22

Updated: Part 13a, more on explorer software (Satellite network, Remote scanning astroids)

daviddowner · Post by **daviddowner** » Mon, 28. Mar 11, 21:35

Updated Part 15a and 15b, Buying and Training Marines and Boarding a ship while using a TP to launch the Marines

daviddowner · Post by **daviddowner** » Wed, 30. Mar 11, 15:48

Updated part 15c, Boarding a Mammoth with an M7M and Boarding Pods.

Note, I am making these videos as I learn how to perform the actions myself, so they will be updated with more information as I get feedback and learn more techniques.

Currently, I've received a tip on YT that once you fire the Pods, you can SETA which should disable(?) turrets and lower the chances of losing boarding pods to defensive fire. I'll try to verify this when I have time.

A5PECT · Post by **A5PECT** » Wed, 30. Mar 11, 16:35

When you engage the SETA drive all of the actions taken by the AI and performed by the game are performed 10x faster than normal (or whatever factor you've set it to). Obviously, this is going to put a lot more stress on your computer. To cope with this heightened level of activity the game is hard-coded to start dropping actions it would normally perform in real-time. One of the first actions dropped is turret control.

The SETA trick basically works by overloading your own computer. This means that the faster your rig is, the less effective SETA will be at disabling turrets.

Personally I find it a little under-handed; I'm not too fond of the SETA drive to begin with. But it does work.

thyco · Post by **thyco** » Wed, 30. Mar 11, 16:44

Just watched a few of the vids. they are just great for helping poeple start out. Much appreciated and i just finished watching your savegame overview, please continue as i love to watch how other play and unlike almost every other vid with comentry i heard, your voice isnt annoying which is a very big plus.

cj-spartacus · Post by **cj-spartacus** » Wed, 30. Mar 11, 16:55

Yes your pleasant southern drawl is not at all annoying. I wish I could say the same for my whiny, nasal, weejie pish that I pass off as a voice.

daviddowner · Post by **daviddowner** » Wed, 30. Mar 11, 16:59

Darn it, I've been trying to hide my southern drawl! I guess I shouldn't make these videos so early in the morning when I'm half asleep and in a hurry to get to work.

Post by **Graphil** » Thu, 14. Apr 11, 11:52

Good job. I've added this to the guides sticky.

swgoddard · Post by **swgoddard** » Thu, 14. Apr 11, 16:51

Love the video guides great work David. Just used the boarding guide to cap the Hyperion Vanguard. Although I lost a UT which became a target as it came past the fight, a small price for a great ship.

I'm sure the guides will be of great help to players of all levels.

Eisenkalle · Post by **Eisenkalle** » Sat, 16. Apr 11, 01:22

Awesome.

Covering a lot of "newbie" topics (also interesting for "senior" players).

Good job!

Craquehead · Post by **Craquehead** » Tue, 26. Apr 11, 20:02

I've been trying with limited success to figure this game out for the past couple of days. It's been frustrating because I can see the greatness just out of reach behind the incomprehensible interface.

I found this thread, and registered on these forums so that I could say this -

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

This represents a massive investment of time, and I appreciate it very much.

SqueakyDave · Post by **SqueakyDave** » Thu, 28. Apr 11, 12:13

What a fantastic resource. You make it all seem so straightforward and as a newbie a really appreciate that. The game initially seems like it a whole lot of nothing much happening (Though strangely hypnotic and compelling) I'm sure you have stopped many new players wandering off in search of more immediate thrills.
Many thanks indeed!

Badmagic · Post by **Badmagic** » Wed, 4. May 11, 09:51

Played X2 to death, played X3R to death, bought X3TC at the Steam sale last Christmas and didn't touch it until this week when a couple of friends asked me about it.

Despite all the time spent on the other titles in previous years I very quickly realised I didn't have the faintest idea what I was doing and the telephone directory method of guides/tips don't help me as I simply no longer retain knowledge five minutes past reading it.

Put simply, these videos are an invaluable resource and very much appreciated.